Battery comprising interconnecting means of electrochemical cell units

Abstract

A battery comprises a stack of electrochemical cell units (1) each comprising a positive electrode (2), a solid electrolyte (3) and a negative electrode (4), the electrodes of the cell units being interconnected by means of a plurality of connector devices (7, 8) each comprising a base section (7a, 8a) connected to an electrode and a pair of contact sections (7c, 8c) extending from the cell unit, the devices (7, 8) being arranged in two stacks with the pairs of contact sections (7c, 8c) of the devices in each stack overlying one another to form two sets of contact sections, adjacent contact sections (7c, 8c) of each set being interconnected with successive interconnections throughout each stack of connector devices alternating between the two sets of contact sections. Unit cells may be connected in parallel or series. Connector devices (7, 8) of opposite polarity may be provided symmetrically either side of a centerline about which the unit cell (1) can be rotated 180° to be stacked in either of two orientations. The connector devices (7, 8) may be provided at adjacent corners of rectangular unit cells.

I claim: 
     
       1. A battery comprising a stack of at least three electrochemical cell units each comprising a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte and a negative electrode, the electrodes of the cell units being interconnected by means of a plurality of connector devices characterized in that each connector device comprises a base section connected to an electrode and a pair of contact sections extending from the cell unit, and the connector devices are arranged in two stacks with the pairs of contact sections of the devices in each stack overlying one another to form two sets of contact sections, adjacent contact sections of each set being interconnected with successive interconnections throughout each stack of connector devices alternating between the two sets of contact sections. 
     
     
       2. A battery as claimed in claim 1 in which each cell unit (7) has a positive connector device (7) connected to the positive electrode and a negative connector device connected to the negative electrode. 
     
     
       3. A battery as claimed in claim 2 in which adjacent cell units are connected in parallel with the positive connector devices and negative connector devices in separate stacks. 
     
     
       4. A battery as claimed in claim 2 in which adjacent cell units are connected in series with the positive and negative connector devices in each stack alternating. 
     
     
       5. A battery as claimed in claim 2 in which the positive and negative connector devices are arranged symmetrically either side of a center line of the cell unit about which the cell unit can be rotated 180 degrees to be stacked with the other cell units in either of two orientations. 
     
     
       6. A battery as claimed in claim 5 in which the cell unit is substantially rectangular in outline and has connector devices provided at adjacent corners. 
     
     
       7. A battery as claimed in claim 6 in which adjacent corners of the cell unit are removed to accommodate the connector devices. 
     
     
       8. A battery as claimed in claim 1 in which each cell unit comprises two outer electrodes of one polarity and an inner electrode of the opposite polarity with solid electrolyte between the inner electrode and each outer electrode, a connector device being connected to both outer electrodes by sections thereof that embrace an edge portion of the cell unit. 
     
     
       9. A battery as claimed in claim 8 in which said sections that embrace an edge portion of the cell unit comprise the base section and a second extending from between the contact sections in a direction away from the contact sections. 
     
     
       10. A battery as claimed in claim 9 in which the contact sections of each connector device comprise a pair of elongate sections. 
     
     
       11. A battery as claimed in claim 1 which has two terminal members each including a main body section with contact means adapted to contact apparatus externally of the battery, and an arm-like member in close proximity to the main body section throughout its length. 
     
     
       12. A battery as claimed in claim 11 in which the arm-like member is L-shaped. 
     
     
       13. A method of interconnecting at least three electrochemical cell units of a battery characterized by providing each with a connector device with a base section by which it is connected to an electrode of the cell unit and a pair of contact sections which extend from the cell unit, arranging the cell units in a stack so that the connector devices form two stacks with the pairs of contact sections of the devices in each stack overlying one another to form two sets of contact sections, and interconnecting adjacent contact sections of each set so that successive interconnections throughout each stack of connector devices alternate between the two sets of contact sections.